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"I am very pleased that the state of California has recognized officially the vital importance of Israel's participation in international security decisions," said Assembly member Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles), who authored the bill. Known as AJR 44, it was approved by the Assembly earlier this month.

"Clearly, Israel has a profound need to be part of strategic policy deliberations at the U.N.," added Knox. "It is just plain wrong that Israel is prevented from inclusion on the Security Council."

The state Senate gave the measure final passage with a 36-0 vote, illustrating the Legislature's strong support of Israel's campaign to join the Security Council.

Of the 185 U.N. members, only Israel is barred from one of the 10 rotating seats on the Security Council. A country is eligible if it belongs to one of the United Nations' five regional subgroups.

But Israel has been continually denied membership in the Asian Group — which includes other Mideast nations — because of strong objections from group members including Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Knox, who has been on the executive board of the American Jewish Committee's Los Angeles chapter for 15 years, took legislative action after learning of Israel's exclusion in a full-page AJCommittee ad that ran in the New York Times last fall.

Referring to the current crisis with Iraq, the Jewish Assembly member said Israel now has even stronger reasons to become a member of the Security Council.

"What more critical time could there be for Israel to participate in a forum where life-and-death choices are made?" Knox asked.

Israel's most realistic opportunity to join the Security Council is by gaining temporary membership in the U.N.'s Western European and Others Group, which includes the United States.

The resolution will now be forwarded to the U.N. secretary-general, the representative of the European Union and the United States' permanent representative to the United Nations.

Knox has said he is urging state legislators outside California to draft similar resolutions to build more support for Israel's cause.

Meanwhile, the AJCommittee is continuing to increase public awareness of the issue, with a college campus e-mail campaign and a community-oriented postcard drive.

In addition, two U.S. congressional resolutions on Israel's Security Council bid are expected to be voted on in early March.